So called "hardened criminals" take far more guns off the "street" than any police efforts, because they steal them. The best of government efforts fall far short in numbers alone, and worst, fail miserably, because they are conceptually stupid and corrupt from the onset, and have been for several hundred years. That is because our elected officials are, by definition, against constitutional rights (keeping and bearing the means for self defense), so continue to act stupidly in the face of reality - they ignore powers that garner support, promote further stupidty, and feed upon the weak.

To fix this, further restrictions are placed on private weapon ownership, and the cycle continues, dooming any chance of private citizens the right of self defence. But the choice of leaders is left to us, so use it; demand a say, or curl up and die, wishing your fore fathers were tougher.